Dell’s entry level Vista and Linux Desktops price comparison

In the past year Dell has responded to a large amount of consumers interested in a Linux desktop. Much of the nerd world has been dreaming of the “Year of the Linux Desktop” when Linux takes over and the evil giant Microsoft falls.

The Inspiron 530 is Dell’s current entry level desktop. I configured the 530N (Ubuntu Linux) and the 530 (Windows Vista) with as similar components as possible. Interestingly enough, the 530N’s cheapest configuration is significantly more powerful than the Vista baseline. Vista starts with a Celeron Processor and Intel integrated graphics, while the Ubuntu PC starts with a Dual-core 1.6 Intel, NVIDIA GeForce 8300GS, and an included 17 inch LCD. The Vista PC can’t even be upgraded to the same video card, so I chose the closest NVIDIA Geforce 7300LE. After adding in the 17 inch LCD to the Vista PC, the grand total was all the way up to $649. The Ubuntu PC beats it by $150 at $499.

Sadly this doesn’t mean you can make out with the Ubuntu PC and then buy Vista to install. Vista Home Basic still costs about $180, leaving you at a net loss of 30 bucks.

On the other hand, an integrated Intel video card is probably just as “capable” as these entry-level nvidia cards (in other words, pretty much completely useless for gaming) so the Windows version allows you to save $50 by using a GMA 3100 instead of adding the GeForce 7300LE. This brings the total price down to $599, making the Linux version $100 cheaper still.

I was unable to find reports on Dell’s success in selling the Ubuntu PCs. I wonder what market they are trying to hit with this low end offer. The best it seems to me are the few who have always been curious about Linux, but don’t want to mess with their current computer. Possibly trying to nab small computer labs who don’t need more than internet computing. In the end, if you need a low end computer and don’t need Windows, you can save a little money by going with Dell and Ubuntu.

in whose opinion ubuntu (and therefore linux) is only for internet computing? except for gaming, which actually is not really an option with these graphic cards, linux-based pcs are as capable as a the windows ones…

“Sadly this doesn’t mean you can make out with the Ubuntu PC and then buy Vista to install. Vista Home Basic still costs about $180, leaving you at a net loss of 30 bucks.”

That’s for the full retail version. The version that Dell supplies with their systems is the OEM version (Original Equipment Manufacturer) which costs around $80, Dell probably pays even less than this (bulk buys etc.). So most of the $150 difference is probably extra profit for Dell.

Unfortunately, Dell’s Linux offerings, at present, falls way short of having any significant number of people choose a Linux PC as an option.

~Being able to choose a Linux machine is pretty much hidden from the general public… it’s difficult to find the links.

~They pretty much only offer it on their crap models.

Until Dell offers Linux as an “OS choice” on just about every model “customize this system” page… there won’t be very many people buying a Linux box. Many average users still don’t even know it IS a choice.

As far as model choices… I’m personally looking for a sub-notebook (under 3 lbs like the D420)… but Dell does not offer Linux on sub-notebooks, yet. So I’d have to pay the “MS tax” and install Linux myself… which if I’m going to do that… I rather have a Sony Vaio TX or TZ. I’ll wait a bit longer for them to offer Linux on more products, but after a certain amount of time… I’ll just be forced to choose a different brand due to the hardware features / over waiting on supporting the Linux movement.

Office 2003’s Word and Excel run quite well under Linux through Wine. I know, I use this when necessary.

As does games like:
* Half Life 2
* CounterStrike: Source
* Command & Conquer (entire series including the current one: “Tiberium Wars”)
* Jedi Knight series
* World of Warcraft
* Call of Duty 2
* Diablo II

Etc, etc.

Doom III and Quake 4 already have native Linux ports, so you don’t need Wine. (Just buy the Windows version and download the files needed for the Linux install at Id Software). This is because John Carmack supports opensource. ;)

Even typical apps like DVD Shrink and utorrent work on Wine. Photoshop 7.0 works, but anything newer tends to be buggy. As does AutoCAD 2000.

If Wine fails, you can use virtualisation and install Windows in a guest OS. VMware, VirtualBox, and Parallels have Linux versions. (The first two are free).

On a side note, the Mac version of Parallels (one with 3D acceleration support), actually uses bits from Wine. (The parts for OpenGL to DirectX translation).

So saying Windows apps don’t work on Linux is just plain wrong. Get informed and do some research first BEFORE you post!

No, the GP is not saying that. Wine actually stands for Wine Is Not an Emulator. The goal of the project is to be able to run native Windows applications with no need for dependency on Windows itself. However, he is overselling Wine a bit. They have fantastic support for some applications, decent support for many others, and lousy support for a lot more.

My own personal experience has been that over the years I’ve moved away from most Windows specific software to cross platform apps. The only thing holding me back from a complete adoption of Linux as my only OS is the fact that the games that I want to play aren’t necessarily on the list that either come with a native Linux port or play well in Wine. I still end up spending about 90% of my personal time on Linux, though.

I am sorry, but Wine is not a solution for the consumer market. It can (maybe?) run some things, but average joe does not understand how to make his Quicken (insert other windows application) install on Ubuntu by looking up tips on wine forums etc. He doesn’t know/care what emulation is, or how Wine isn’t one.

I realize that not using Windows means more profit for dell, since they aren’t dropping the price as much. Are we complaining that Linux is finding companies profits now?

Except that it doesn’t run any Windows software…. Not everyone wants to use ALL NEW software.

if someone new to computers bought a pc with linux or windows than the software wouldn’t be new anyway? and we are talking about simple computing here! watching videos,dvds,writing something on office (openoffice that is), email,internet! and for that? 150 dollars cheaper is good! (or go buy a ps3 and install linux on it :D )

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